Global Nutrition Cluster

Task forces

© UNICEF/NYHQ2011-0069/Noorani

Periodically, ad-hoc Task Forces are formed as part of the GNC to address emerging technical issues and to facilitate liaison with existing technical groups outside of the GNC. These are time-bound group with clearly defined outputs.  Recently, there has only been one active Task Force, the MAM Task Force.

MAM Task Force
The Task Force on Moderate Acute Malnutrition was established in March 2011 in response to the need for programmatic guidance on the prevention and treatment of moderate acute malnutrition. The Task Force was set up to develop a Decision Tool which could be used in emergencies to assist the Nutrition Cluster to determine the most appropriate type of intervention for MAM in the particular context. 

MAM Task Force Chair: WFP
Margot van der Velden (margot.vandervelden@wfp.org)
Lynnda Kiess (lynnda.kiess@wfp.org)

Task Force Members List, February 2013 [xls]

Moderate Acute Malnutrition: A Decision Tool for Emergencies (link) In response to the outstanding need for guidance in moderate acute malnutrition programming, the MAM taskforce drafted a decision tool to support practitioners in emergencies to decide which type of intervention was most appropriate for the prevention and treatment of moderate acute malnutrition. This was a collaborative effort of GNC partners: ACF, CDC, OFDA, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WFP (chair) through two meetings in 2011 and various calls to finalize the document. This tool is intended to be used in collaboration with all nutrition partners during an emergency as the decision is very much independent of agency roles and responsibilities.

Information Management Task Forse

During a GNC face-to-face meeting in January 2013, it was decided to create an Information Management (IM) Task Force. The first step is to agree on TOR and criteria for the TF. It is planned that the TF will consist of GNC partners with expertise in IM as well as country representatives, operational partners, information managers and experts in the area. All interested eligible parties are welcome to express their interest as soon as possible (gnc@unicef.org).